Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Gadi’s Quarters- Commiseration

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Gadi’s Quarters- Commiseration

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Gadi’s Quarters- Commiseration

(snip)

Bethany’s stance stopped being relaxed for a moment. “We know the reason it didn’t work, Shara. You’re making assumptions without all the information. Dr. Izei advised me not to try using them again.” That was private medical information and she wasn’t sharing it.

“You didn’t tell me earlier you had already tried it,” Shara said with a shrug.

“The reason it didn’t work last time,” he glanced at Calloway, “shouldn’t be a problem anymore.” Aasrel turned around and opened some cabinets, readying a hypo. With the hypo and a medical scanner in hand, he looked at Bethany. “I can double check, but I know the time frames on these things. It’ll work this time.”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany did not want the hypo. Shara was making a bigger deal than it was. No, Bethany didn’t typically drink, but she felt the woman was being a bit hypocritical of Bethany. Especially since she came to her quarters wanting to drink.

Bethany flashed a grin, “You’re the doc, not me, but you did tell me I can’t work a muscle that I keep in a sling.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“You’re right, you can’t, but I didn’t anticipate you drowning that muscle in alcohol, either,” Aasrel replied, giving Bethany a little glare. “Maybe a break will be good for you.”

~ Izei, CMO

This was bordering on territory that was uncomfortable for Shara, not because she couldn’t be a part of this conversation, but because Bethy’s strange behaviour told her that Shara herself couldn’t help here. “It might not affect you quite the same way, and maybe it won’t kill you, but it doesn’t mean it can’t change you,” she said softly.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Bethany held her hands up, palms out. “Alright, alright.” She moved her hair out of the way and tipped her head to the side. “If it makes you both feel better, go for it.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel administered the hypo gently. “It’ll last about twelve hours. It’ll give you a break from it.” That was something he would never understand, needing a break from it. But he could feel her overwhelm, he knew how it made her feel.

~ Izei, CMO

Having done what she thought was the right thing under the circumstances, Shara honestly wasn’t sure what came next. She hadn’t had friends since Tracken and this was not that built by hand colony where they all succeeded or failed based on how well they cooperated. The same thing could be said here too, but Shara didn’t know the rules exactly. And she had accepted that Bethy might be angry with her for interfering, but what came after that? She didn’t know. That was the thing about being a lone wolf for so many years. Any conflict she experienced was easily set to the side and forgotten about because that person wasn’t going to be in her life much longer.

But Faye and Micah and Nadine were all reminding her that as hard as it sometimes was, the interpersonal conflict wouldn’t kill her. Her own demons had more power in that realm than anything. Maybe it was that part of her that resonated with what she saw in Bethany Gadi. She had been honest about knowing what suffering looked like and if she could help a friend ease even a little of that, she would do everything she could.

Still, it made for an awkward moment just now as she shifted her weight from one foot to another, uncertain what came next, other than making sure to retrieve her tola from Gadi’s quarters.

~Shara Calloway, CIO